Cineplex Odeon Films

Cineplex Odeon Films was the film distribution arm associated with Cineplex Odeon Corporation, the Canadian cinema group created by theatre entrepreneur Nat Taylor and producer Garth Drabinsky. Established in 1979 as Pan-Canadian Film Distributors, the company was designed to give its owners a stronger position in acquiring, releasing and exploiting films rather than relying entirely on external distributors. Its activities eventually covered theatrical distribution, home video, pay television licensing, selected production and co-production, and international rights management. The business was renamed Cineplex Odeon Films on August 27, 1986. That change aligned the distributor more closely with the Cineplex Odeon theatre identity and accompanied a substantial expansion into the United States. U.S. operations began in Los Angeles in November 1986, with a Century City headquarters and regional offices in markets including New York and Chicago. Garth Drabinsky became the company’s chief officer. The U.S. structure was intended to operate as a North American distribution platform, while the Canadian division continued from Cineplex Odeon’s Canadian corporate base. The distributor’s catalogue combined Canadian and international cinema with commercially oriented English-language releases. Its early and notable titles included The Decline of the American Empire, The Glass Menagerie, The Last Temptation of Christ, Prancer, The Grifters, Mr. & Mrs. Bridge, Madame Sousatzka, Jacknife, Sign o' the Times, Talk Radio and The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland. The company also worked with Universal and its MCA-related distribution infrastructure, helping place selected films in theatrical and home-video channels. This relationship contributed to Cineplex Odeon Films’ temporary role as a U.S. arthouse-oriented outlet during a period when Universal’s earlier specialized distribution structure was no longer operating. Cineplex Odeon broadened beyond film distribution during the 1980s. A home-video division, originally associated with Pan-Canadian Video Presentations, was developed in 1986. The company reached arrangements involving MCA Home Video in Canada and the United States and also formed a Canadian output relationship with Virgin Vision. In October 1987 it established Cineplex Odeon Television Productions. The television unit’s early work included new episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents for USA Network, produced in association with MCA TV and later shown in Canada through Global Television Network. The company also experimented with lower-budget production through Northfolk Productions, a partnership formed in late 1987 with Robert Redford’s Wildwood Enterprises. The proposed model focused on pictures costing less than approximately US$5 million, with a plan to develop several films over a five-year period. Although Cineplex Odeon Films remained principally a distributor, these initiatives reflected the broader strategy of combining exhibition, acquisition, production and downstream rights exploitation. By 1990, Cineplex Odeon Films was described as Canada’s largest independent film distribution company. Its corporate organization changed during the following decade. In the early 1990s the business continued to manage Canadian distribution and relationships with suppliers and rights holders, while in 1993–1994 it reorganized parts of its corporate-affairs and distribution administration. Later in the 1990s, the name was shortened to Odeon Films, invoking the historic Odeon identity and separating the film label from the wider Cineplex Odeon corporate brand. One of the final releases associated with the label was Cube, which was released in the United States under Trimark Pictures’ banner. The decisive change came in early 1998. Cineplex Odeon Corporation sold 75 percent of the film company to Alliance Communications for CA$5 million, while the remaining 25 percent was donated to a foundation representing Canadian film schools. The transaction occurred as Cineplex Odeon’s theatre operations were being sold to Sony’s Loews Theaters, creating Loews Cineplex Entertainment. Canadian ownership rules affecting domestic film distributors were an important factor in the restructuring. Cineplex Odeon Films was subsequently absorbed into the Alliance corporate lineage: Alliance Communications combined with Atlantis Communications to form Alliance Atlantis, the film unit later became Alliance Films, and that business was eventually folded into Entertainment One. The original Cineplex Odeon Films operating brand is no longer active, although its library and related rights continue to be distributed or administered by successor and rights-holding companies.

Cineplex Odeon Films began in 1979 as Pan-Canadian Film Distributors, a partnership between Garth Drabinsky and Nat Taylor. Its creation reflected the ambitions of Cineplex Odeon Corporation to participate in the entire film value chain, from exhibition to distribution and rights exploitation. Rather than functioning only as a supplier to cinemas, the company acquired and released films in Canada and developed relationships covering theatrical, home-video and pay television markets. On August 27, 1986, Pan-Canadian adopted the Cineplex Odeon Films name. The rebranding coincided with a major move into the United States. U.S. operations opened in Los Angeles in November 1986, with the business organized around a Century City base and regional offices in other American markets. Drabinsky became chief officer. The company’s first American theatrical release was The Decline of the American Empire, produced by René Malo. The company’s American presence was supported by the ownership relationship between Cineplex Odeon and MCA, then also the owner of Universal Pictures. Cineplex Odeon Films consequently handled or participated in the distribution of several films connected with Universal, including The Glass Menagerie, The Last Temptation of Christ, Talk Radio and Madame Sousatzka. During the mid-to-late 1980s it also served, in practice, as a specialty or arthouse outlet in the United States after Universal Classics ceased operating. That role ended when Cineplex Odeon stopped distributing films in the United States in 1989; Universal later returned to the American specialty market through its Gramercy Pictures partnership with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment. The company expanded its downstream activities in 1986 by developing a home-video operation, previously associated with Pan-Canadian Video Presentations. It entered arrangements involving MCA Home Video and obtained a Canadian output relationship with Virgin Vision. In 1987 it added a television arm, Cineplex Odeon Television Productions. Its first television projects included 41 new episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents for USA Network, made with MCA TV and broadcast in Canada by Global Television Network. A separate production initiative, Northfolk Productions, was formed in late 1987 with Robert Redford’s Wildwood Enterprises. The proposed venture targeted films with budgets below roughly US$5 million and aimed to develop several pictures over five years. By 1990, Cineplex Odeon Films had become Canada’s largest independent film distributor. Its release portfolio included Canadian productions, international art cinema, prestige English-language films, concert films and selected commercial titles. The company also maintained an international division intended to distribute its films outside North America. Its business therefore combined rights acquisition, theatrical booking, home-video licensing, pay television arrangements and selective production activity. Corporate administration was adjusted in the early 1990s. In December 1993, Cineplex Odeon Films Canada announced that Bryan Gliserman would become senior vice president of corporate affairs effective January 17, 1994. He was assigned responsibility for overseeing operations and improving distribution services, including relationships with suppliers such as Columbia/TriStar, Savoy Pictures and Gramercy Pictures. Later in the decade the company changed its public name to Odeon Films. The revised name drew on the historic Odeon identity and was used for releases including Cube, one of the label’s final films; the film appeared in American markets under Trimark Pictures’ banner. The company’s independent existence ended in early 1998. Alliance Communications purchased 75 percent for CA$5 million, while the remaining 25 percent was donated to a foundation representing Canadian film schools. The transaction occurred close to the sale of Cineplex Odeon Corporation’s theatre business to Sony’s Loews Theaters, which created Loews Cineplex Entertainment. The reference material identifies Canadian restrictions on foreign ownership of domestic distributors as one factor behind the disposal. Cineplex Odeon Films was then absorbed into Alliance’s successive corporate structures: Alliance Communications merged with Atlantis Communications to form Alliance Atlantis; the film operation later became Alliance Films; and Alliance Films was ultimately folded into Entertainment One. The original brand is defunct, although successor companies and other rights holders continue to control or distribute parts of its catalogue.

• 1998

  Majority interest is sold to Alliance Communications

  [1]Cineplex Odeon Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  Alliance Communications acquires 75 percent of Cineplex Odeon Films for CA$5 million, ending its independent corporate life.

• 1994

  Bryan Gliserman assumes senior corporate-affairs role

  [1]Cineplex Odeon Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  Gliserman takes responsibility for operations and distribution-service relationships after his appointment becomes effective in January.

• 1990

  The distributor reaches leading independent status in Canada

  [1]Cineplex Odeon Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  Cineplex Odeon Films is described as Canada’s largest independent film distribution company.

• 1987

  Television production subsidiary is established

  [1]Cineplex Odeon Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  Cineplex Odeon Television Productions is created, with Alfred Hitchcock Presents among its early projects.

• 1987

  Northfolk Productions partnership is formed

  [1]Cineplex Odeon Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  The company partners with Wildwood Enterprises to pursue lower-budget film production.

• 1986

  The company adopts the Cineplex Odeon Films name

  [1]Cineplex Odeon Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  Pan-Canadian Film Distributors changes its name on August 27 and begins U.S. operations in Los Angeles in November.

• 1986

  Home-video operation expands

  [1]Cineplex Odeon Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  The company develops its home-video division and works with MCA Home Video and other rights partners.

• 1979

  Pan-Canadian Film Distributors is founded

  [1]Cineplex Odeon Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  Garth Drabinsky and Nat Taylor establish the distributor in Toronto as a partnership associated with Cineplex Odeon’s broader cinema business.

A Canadian-owned, cinema-linked film distributor that developed into a North American platform for theatrical, home-video and television rights, with a strong emphasis on Canadian, international, specialty and arthouse cinema.

• Film distribution · 1979

  Theatrical film distribution

  The company’s core business was acquiring, licensing, marketing and releasing films through Canadian cinemas and, for a period, U.S. theatrical channels. Its catalogue ranged from Canadian and international art cinema to prestige English-language productions, concert films and selected commercial releases. The distributor’s theatre-chain affiliation gave it a direct connection to exhibition, while its supplier relationships broadened the range of films it could place in the market.

• Home entertainment · 1986

  Home-video distribution

  The home-video operation developed from Pan-Canadian Video Presentations and expanded in 1986. Cineplex Odeon Films worked with MCA Home Video for releases in Canada and the United States and also had a Canadian output arrangement with Virgin Vision. The division allowed the company to monetize theatrical titles after their cinema runs through videocassette and related home-entertainment channels.

• Television production · 1987

  Cineplex Odeon Television Productions

  Created in 1987, the television subsidiary extended Cineplex Odeon’s activities into program production. Its early output included 41 new episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents for USA Network, produced in association with MCA TV and later shown in Canada through Global Television Network.

• International rights distribution

  Cineplex Odeon Films International

  The international division was intended to distribute Cineplex Odeon Films titles outside North America. It represented the company’s effort to manage film rights across multiple territories rather than limiting the business to Canadian theatrical releases and North American home entertainment.

• Film production partnership · 1987

  Northfolk Productions

  Northfolk Productions was a lower-budget production venture formed with Robert Redford’s Wildwood Enterprises. Its stated model focused on films costing less than approximately US$5 million and contemplated several productions over five years.

• 1998

  Sell the film distribution business to Alliance CommunicationsM&A

  Background

  Cineplex Odeon Corporation was restructuring its theatre business, and the reference material identifies Canadian restrictions on foreign ownership of domestic distributors as a factor in the sale.

  Action taken

  Alliance Communications purchased 75 percent of Cineplex Odeon Films for CA$5 million. The remaining 25 percent was donated to a foundation representing Canadian film schools.

  Aftermath

  The company entered the Alliance Communications and later Alliance Atlantis lineage, subsequently becoming part of Alliance Films and Entertainment One. The original Cineplex Odeon Films brand ceased operating independently.

  Purchase price for 75 percent interest. CA$5 million (Early 1998)

  Source

• 1987

  Diversify into television and lower-budget productionStrategy

  Background

  Cineplex Odeon sought to complement theatrical distribution with production and additional rights windows.

  Action taken

  It created Cineplex Odeon Television Productions and formed Northfolk Productions with Wildwood Enterprises.

  Aftermath

  The initiatives broadened the group’s media activities, although the film-distribution operation remained its central identity.

  Source

• 1986

  Rebrand and expand into the United StatesStrategy

  Background

  The original Pan-Canadian identity did not fully describe the company’s growing relationship with the Cineplex Odeon theatre chain or its planned North American operations.

  Action taken

  The distributor adopted the Cineplex Odeon Films name and established U.S. operations in Los Angeles, with additional regional offices.

  Aftermath

  The company gained a broader North American profile and temporarily functioned as a specialty outlet connected to MCA and Universal-related distribution activity.

  Source

• 1998

  Cineplex Odeon Films is sold to Alliance Communications[1]Cineplex Odeon Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Alliance Communications acquired 75 percent of the film company, while the remaining quarter was donated to a foundation representing Canadian film schools.

• 1990

  Cineplex Odeon Films becomes Canada’s largest independent distributor[1]Cineplex Odeon Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The company was identified as Canada’s largest independent film distribution company.

• 1987

  Cineplex Odeon launches television production subsidiary[1]Cineplex Odeon Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Cineplex Odeon Television Productions was created to develop television programming, including new episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

• 1987

  Cineplex Odeon Films forms Northfolk Productions partnership[1]Cineplex Odeon Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  The distributor partnered with Robert Redford’s Wildwood Enterprises to pursue lower-budget film production.

• 1986

  Pan-Canadian Film Distributors is renamed Cineplex Odeon Films[1]Cineplex Odeon Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The Canadian distributor adopted the Cineplex Odeon Films name and began U.S. operations later that year.

1. 1Cineplex Odeon Filmsen.wikipedia.org